It’s nearly time for the seasonal unwind, so discover the tunes, podcasts, exhibitions, festivals or Netflix binge of choice this holiday for Team XYZ
Anna Gonzalez
Business Development & Marketing Manager
I know you all think you’re sick of it but that’s genuinely impossible so my summer anthem is still Padam Padam by Kylie Minogue. Whether you’re manifesting your hot-girl vibes, need a pick me up from the illegal weather, or just being fabulously queer, this will CARRY you.
Ashton Moran
Creative | Graphic Designer
I’m heading to All Points East festival (18th-28th Aug) to see The Strokes. One on every indie kids ‘list of bands to tick off’. Their music inspired lots of early 2000’s British artists such as the Arctic Monkeys or Franz Ferdinand, and still holds up to this day. Other headliners at the festival include Stormzy, Aphex Twin, Bonobo, Jungle, Dermot Kennedy and Haim.
Ashley De Guzman
Junior Creative
So I’m ridiculously nerdy about poetry, and this summer is an exciting one for me as the Southbank Centre are hosting their annual Poetry International 2023. This year’s theme is ‘Our Planet’, and it’s packed with incredible poets, art installations & workshops exploring ecology & care. Super great if you’re into words, the planet & meeting wonderful people in the poetry scene! (also the Southbank Food Market next to it SLAPS – so that’s a plus)
Bex O’Hara
Account Executive
This summer I’ve been inspired by Barbie and have been shamelessly integrating pink into every aspect of my life, keeping Barbie World (Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, Aqua) on repeat. On the theme of fun, upbeat music this summer, I’ve also been listening to a lot of horsegiirL and Partiboi69 who I’ll be boogying to at Maiden Voyage and Fabric respectively.
Matteo Cortés Rios
Midweight Creative | Experience Design
Reframe: The Residency Exhibition at the Southbank, ANSELM KIEFER at The White Cube and the SERPENTINE PAVILLION, all provide a great opportunity to experience some of the most contemporary offers in London at the moment, so those are on my exhibitions list.
Music-wise, some of my favourite sounds for this “warm” weather, all of which are by Latin artists, include Bad Bunny’s Tití Me Preguntó, Juliana’s Narices Frias and Maria.
Gordon Reid
Head of Delivery
Following hot on heels of the Tour De France, the UCI Cycling World Championships are arriving in Glasgow. It’s the first time all the cycling disciplines have aligned over one mega event, so road, track, mountain, BMX and cross are all hosting their respective World Championships. Everyone get to Scotland ASAP!
Also tune in to Scientists and Engineers – Killer Mile ft Andre3000 and read Invisible Child by Andera Elliott.
Yasmin Brown
Senior Account Manager
My summer playlist consists pretty much exclusively of indie pop by female / non-binary bands and artists who are besties with Taylor Swift. As well as catching Haim, Girl in Red and Tove Lo (to name a few) at APE this August, I’m super excited to be heading down to Gunnersbury to see super group boygenius made up of Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus, supported by Muna for ultimate summer vibes!
Recommended track: True Blue
Nina Chauhan
Client Services Manager
My current binge watch is Beef on Netflix.
Not quite comedy, not quite drama it’s quite dark and a thriller of sorts, stemming from a road rage feud between the two main characters Amy and Danny. Featuring an all-Asian cast with lots of plot twists and unexpected escalated moments, it makes for binge worthy TV made even more so by each episode being only 30 mins or so long.
Top styling and wardrobe too to feel inspired by. Worth a watch on those rainy summer nights in!
Luisa Filby
Midweight Creative | Conceptual
Some podcast recommends… You’re Wrong About is great for when you want to get lost in a (true) story. The premise, a bit like Revisionist History (also great), is revisiting past events that have been misunderstood in the popular imagination. Topics range wildly – from the O.J. Simpson trial to ‘Lesbian seagulls’ and Beanie Babies – and the mini series’ can get quite addictive. Then Song Exploder is a bitesize treat for music lovers. Each episode gets a musician to break down one of their most iconic songs and share both its inspirations and how the song is literally constructed, which I find nerdily fascinating.
